Water is the single-most important element on Earth. That said, most water found in the wild contains contaminants such as bacteria and protozoa. Even if you're not going camping any time soon, it's a good idea to know how to purify water. The most common method of treating water is by boiling it. Knowing how to properly boil water will save you a lot of stomach cramps and diarrhea-filled bathroom breaks.

Start with Iodine Treatment

Water can be treated chemically. Iodine pills are one way to do that. Many drugstores sell Potable Aqua brand tablets, which are nothing more than concentrated iodine made to purify your water. Follow the instructions for your specific brand of iodine treatment. On average, no iodine treatment should take more than an hour and a half and it's never more complicated than adding some pills to a bottle of water and shaking the bottle up. While iodine can treat water, it's best to couple this with boiling as heating water will remove a lot of that chemical taste from the treated water.

How Long Should I Boil?

When water boils, it kills every living thing in the water. While iodine treatments kill some toxins, it only inactivates others. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that boiling water is the most effective, thorough way to get clean water. If you're near or at sea level, the EPA advises to bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.

Also, according to the Wilderness Medical Society, water temperatures that are above 160° Fahrenheit will kill all microorganisms within 30 minutes. If the water is 185° F or above, those same microorganisms will be killed within a few minutes. Even at a high altitude where water boils at a lower temperature let the water boil rapidly for one minute.

About the Author

Ryan Day is a writer who hails from northeast Florida. He graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine and has worked as a freelance writer for five years now and has been published in The St. Augustine Record and The Florida Times-Union. Ryan spends his free time traveling, volunteering with a local college ministry and playing kickball.

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